This beauty is all for me. Another taxi tote, with near-perfect bias tape. I found this fabric at JoAnn’s a couple weeks ago and splurged on 2 yards. I had no idea what I was going to do with it, but this worked like magic. Of course I matched my outfit to it today and am loving carrying my own bag!

Also whipped up this last one — last one for a while, promise! — for a girlfriend who requested a red/white/and black tote. I love how the red pops.

I started another sewing project last night to realize I was 1.5 yards short of fabric. Darn it! That silly math trips me up from time to time. Mrs. Theile, my high school math teacher, was right. I should have paid more attention.

When I added Seams to Me to my Christmas list, a friend-via-blogging named Flo — who lives in Japan — immediately emailed and offered to send me her copy. She did so, and I’ve been truly enjoying this book (and her act of kindness) since.

The Taxi Tote is my first project. January is a purse pattern review month around here, and for this second bag I must say — the size is perfect.

It is exactly the right shape and size for an everyday purse. I love a big everyday bag. I carry a ridiculous number of things with me to work — address book, journal, book of the week, magazines, to-do manila file folder, etc. This bag would be Golidlocks-right in size.

That said? The bias tape is a bitch. A complete and total, hormonal, raging bitch. I do not like working with this stuff at all. Even if it produces a nice edge.

My edges are so far from perfect because I got to the point where I just wanted to have this thing finished.

Yet, you only get better with practice. This bag was made for someone in mind. I may just start over to make myself a spring tote.